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The following article was posted on December 18th, 2013, in the New Times - Volume 28, Issue 21 [ Submit a Story ]

The following articles were printed from New Times [newtimesslo.com] - Volume 28, Issue 21

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Cougars & Mustangs

BY CHRIS WHITE-SANBORN

Hey there, Cuesta and Cal Poly students. You’ve both completed your finals! So … what are you going to do next? That’s right, plan for your next term of schooling! Hurrah!

But seriously, what are you going to do next? Embrace time with family? Get started on good habits, preparing for upcoming New Year’s Resolutions?

I’ve got an idea: Try being yourself! “You” is wonderful, “you” is you! Frankly, there are probably always going to be more things to do, never a list completely checked off. So just remember to smile at yourself in the mirror every now and then.

If you can bear to look back for a moment, this might be a good time to reflect on how you feel your college path is even going in the first place! Are you still happy with your major? Has something briefly touched upon in a class intrigued you to the point that you find yourself visiting your local library as well as scouring the Internet to learn more? Don’t expect me to answer these questions! At least, not when it comes to YOU, especially when I’m not sure what I’d answer for myself!

An image frequently associated with youth is abandonment of responsibilities and care, a lively mix of positive and negative connotations. Don’t forget to follow that most wonderful of scientific advice by the sage Miss Frizzle—“Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” Of course, if you know or are a teenager you’re aware of how stressful things can be. A lifelong quest ensues to find the perfect balance of soul searching/mental health nursing with attendance to responsibilities. If you haven’t found your true calling in life yet, it’s not your fault.

At the same time, however, one can’t just do every little thing that pops into one’s head and avoid any duties one has. There’s this weird feeling of “you’re finally 18, you should be responsible now,” a bit like Harry standing on King’s Cross station confused about which platform to take. One is left to wonder when one missed the intermediate step between childhood and adulthood. Unfortunately, or perhaps very fortunately, one’s entire life is a series of intermediate steps. So if you have no idea what’s going on, that’s terrible, but also electrifyingly normal. So, during this fine holiday season, when you find yourself morosely puzzling and puzzling till your puzzler is sore … remember that, won’t you?